NOVEL NEXT Chapter 177: Chapter 177
Amidst the thunderous applause, a multitude of figures materialized from various corners. These were the outer academy students, handpicked for the final melee. As they stepped into the arena, they formed alliances. Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao, the crowd favorites, were surrounded by their loyal followers. Yao Yan and Gu Xun Er, a formidable duo, joined forces, while Xiao Ning's solitary figure stood alone.
The instructors and judges, their eyes brimming with curiosity, closely observed the students. It had been a while since they had witnessed such a fierce competition. Old Hu and the other dou emperors, their brows furrowed, couldn't help but voice their concerns, "Doesn't it seem a tad unfair to Xiao Ning and the other two, the little fellows?"
Hu Gan's eyes sparkled with wisdom as he stroked his beard and replied, "Life, my friends, is never absolutely fair. Besides, that little brat is already a Dou Spirit. In a one-to-one battle, who can truly be his opponent? At least, in this manner, the competition might pose him a slight challenge."
The group fell into a hushed silence upon hearing the news. After gauging their reaction, Hu Gan's smile softened as he thought, "I've paved the way for you, young one. Now it's all up to you." It was clear that Hu Gan, unable to favor Xiao Ning due to the academy's rules openly, had subtly modified the competition format to give him a better chance to shine. While others may have misunderstood his intentions, Hu Gan had provided Xiao Ning with a platform to surpass everyone's expectations.
...
"Commence!" A booming voice reverberated across the stadium, and all eyes locked in a tense gaze. Even within the same group, the students remained on high alert, unwilling to lower their defenses. Bai Shan and Hu Jia, both vying for Gu Xun Er's favor, exchanged a knowing look. The arrival of Yao Yan had shifted the dynamics, and they tactically decided to eliminate him before turning their attention to each other.
Yao Yan and Gu Xun Er sensed their sinister gaze and smiled at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. They were ready for the challenge, prepared to face whatever strategies their opponents might throw at them.
Xiao Ning appeared to be standing in one corner, seemingly defenseless. However, anyone who underestimated him would be in for a big problem. He cast a quick glance at the potential students from the corner of his eyes and thought to himself, 'Let's clear out the field.' In the next instant, he vanished from his position and rushed into the crowd.
The majority of the students who were present had attained the rank of Dou Masters, with only a few exceptionally talented individuals having achieved the higher rank of Dou Grandmaster. However, even these individuals posed no threat to Xiao Ning. This was due to the unique nature of his qi method, which not only provided him with an endless supply of dou qi but also strengthened his physical body. Additionally, with his current cultivation level at the peak of the Dou spirit realm, only a select few could withstand a single punch from him.
Xiao Ning defeated several students as they suddenly felt a blur appearing in front of them before their vision turned dark, and they were thrown out of the arena. After successfully defeating a couple of his opponents, Xiao Ning came to a halt and stood in the center of the arena. The remaining students surrounded him from all directions, but none dared to step forward.
Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao teamed up and surrounded Yao Yan and Gu Xun Er. Despite their strength, Yao Yan and Gu Xun Er couldn't ignore the alliance of these three famous figures. Even a single Wu Hao was enough to make Yao Yan take it seriously, let alone the more talented Bai Shan and Hu Jia.
...
Xiao Ning was dissatisfied with the competition's progress and decided to make it more enjoyable. A sly smile appeared on his face as he raised his palm, and a golden flame floated above it. Under the watchful eyes of the surrounding students, the flame grew in size and transformed into a fiery golden serpent. The fire python then slowly moved in a circle around Xiao Ning while hissing.
The reappearance of the python and the increasing temperature brought back memories of a recent unpleasant incident. The students surrounding Xiao Ning lost their courage instantly and slowly retreated. Though qualifying for the inner academy was important, nobody dared to face Xiao Ning's attack.
"Attack!" Xiao Ning muttered softly and came to a halt. In the next moment, the golden python let out a hiss and charged ahead, burning everything in its path. The students, intimidated by the fiery python, lost their courage and leaped off the arena. Even after quitting the competition, they took a few steps back from the arena, fearing that the python might still target them.
Xiao Ning remained unfazed upon witnessing the scene. He had never considered them a serious threat. His sole focus was on Yao Yan and his group of four. With a mere flick of his index finger, the fire python veered towards only the five enemies, attacking them with precision.
Despite being aware of the changes in the arena, the appeal of Gu Xun Er was more captivating than they had anticipated. Even after witnessing Xiao Ning's aggressive attack, they remained focused on targeting Yao Yan. It wasn't until the fire python drew near that Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao released their grip and defended themselves.
Yao Yan stood before Gu Xun Er and manipulated his heavenly flame to form a shield to defend both from Xiao Ning's attack.
Xiao Ning's eyes were filled with indifference as he stared at his opponents. With a slight gesture, the fire python he controlled split into two and launched its attacks. The two smaller fire pythons rushed towards their targets from different directions. One targeted Bai Shan, while the other was aimed at Yao Yan.
Bai Shan was in great pain, and his body trembled as he roared, using all his dou qi to shield his internal organs from the fire python. Xiao Ning's golden flame was as strong as a heavenly flame. Without Xiao Ning holding back, it would have been impossible for Bai Shan to protect himself. Seeing how badly Bai Shan was hurt, Wu Hao and Hu Jia rushed forward to support him.